Joint task force to resolve maid issue

JAKARTA, Nov 19 (Bernama) -- The Malaysia-Indonesia Joint Task Force (JTF) meeting in Bogor at the end of this month is expected to overcome various issues relating to Indonesian maids in Malaysia.

Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Maznah Mazlan said JTF was the most suitable platform for discussing current issues and issues on the implementation of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the recruitment and placement of Indonesian maids in Malaysia.

"At the moment, we find that there are implementation issues and I am confident the JTF meeting will resolve matters encumbering the MoU implementation," she told Bernama, here.

Maznah is here to attend the Asean Skills Competition where Malaysia has sent 44 participants to take part in 22 of the 23 fields of skills contested.

JTF is jointly chaired by the Malaysian and Indonesian Manpower Department director-generals with members from the relevant agencies. Results of the discussion will be brought to the Joint Working Group chaired at the ministerial level.

Maznah said the Malaysian government regretted that from time to time there were untoward incidents involving foreign workers and these isolated cases received widespread coverage.

She, however, stressed that Malaysia would firmly enforce the laws and regulations of the country, and nobody was above the legal system if he or she violated any law or regulation.

The deputy minister hoped that all parties would uphold the spirit of the MoU and use the JTF to overcome problems based on information and investigations on specific cases.

During her visit to a domestic maid training centre operated by a foreign worker agency in Bekasi, West Java on Sunday, Maznah said the training centre showed the seriousness of the Indonesian government in improving the competency of potential maids to be sent abroad.